I NEVER EXPECTED THIS HOUSE
TO HOLD ME DEAR
THE STRONG PURE MAGIC
WAS SOMEWHAT CLEAR
A SPOOKY GARDEN
A BROKEN FENCE
ALL SORTS OF TRASHY
EVIDENCE
SORTED OUT
BY FORMER PASSENGERS
THOSE WHO
DEPARTED
LONG BEFORE
MY FIRST VISIT,
IT CAME
WITH THE RAIN
ON A DAY CALLED
OUT
TO SEARCH FOR
A PAD,
AND SO I WAS GLAD
TO ROAR UP
THE HILL
TO UNKNOWN PLACES
EXPLORING SPACES
FAR FROM THE PAST,
THIS BECAUSE
I WAS TOLD
BY YOUNG AND OLD
THAT THE SUN BELT
WAS THE BOMB,
A PLACE WHERE
LIFE EXISTED
WILD AND TWISTED
BETWEEN
THE CITY AND
THE ROADS,
TUCKED AWAY ON
WINDING STREETS,
REPLETE WITH
OLD RUSTIC DUMPS
SET BESIDE
MANSIONS,
GARDENS OF DELIGHT
FEATURING HOT FLOWERS
AND TREES,
THE HEDGES GROWING
IN A STRONG CHILLY
BREEZE,
UPON ARRIVAL
I SNUCK ABOARD
SLIPPING PAST THE
WORKERS
WHO WERE WAY TOO
BUSY TO NOTICE ME,
AND I COULD SEE
THE INSIDE OF
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
FOR MYSELF,
WITH TIME TO WANDER
IN ROOMS SET BACK IN
THE GARDEN,
FAR AWAY FROM THE
ROAD,

LET TALES BE TOLD
OF THOSE WHO
PLANTED THESE TREES,
AND FROLICKED AMONG
THEM,
PROBABLY YEARS AGO,
AND SO I FELT A WARMNESS,
A RHAPSODY OF HEAT
THAT FAMILY FEELING
THAT MAKES THINGS
COMPLETE,
THE OLD PINK BATHROOM
WITH A TINY BLACK DRESSER,
THE BIG NEW AREA WITH
WINDOWS GALORE
THAT TURNS OUT TO BE
A WILD SHOW ON THE SCORE,
AND LATER I FOUND
WAY DOWN ON THE GROUND
(FLOOR THAT IS)
A TINY SWEET ROOM
MOST LIKELY A PLACE
WHERE SOMEBODY SNUCK
OUT, AWAY FROM THE
RACE,
AND EVEN A SPACE
FOR THE WASHER
AND DRYER,
ALBEIT A SHAMBLE
OF INCOMPETANT
DESIRE,
AND UNDER THE HOUSE
FROM A TINY DOOR
WAS THE ROARING
HOT FURNACE
AND SO MUCH MORE,
SOMEBODY FIXED UP
AND MADE THIS
A BOHEMIAN PLACE
THE PERFECT JOINT
FOR AN ARTIST’S EMBRACE,
AND WHAT A SURPRISE
WHEN I OPENED MY EYES
TO A HUGE CLIMBING YARD
WITH A STRANGE BLACK CAT
THAT VISITS OCCASIONLY
WHO KNOWS ABOUT THAT,
AND I FIND MYSELF
ROASTING ALMONDS
TODAY,
WRITING ABOUT
THE FINE PLACE
WHERE I STAY,
OLD TREES
AND STRONG BREEZE
EMBRACE ME THIS WAY,
AS I PREPARE MYSELF
TO GO OUT
AND PLAY!

©JW WINSLOW 8/1/2021